The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine
The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine
Argentine Tango in Times of Crisis: Embodied Artistic Practice to Reduce Cancer-Related Fatigue and Restore Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors
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Background: Artistic practices such as dance therapies may offer support to patients diagnosed with breast cancer in regain their sense of balance and connection during personal crisis.
Objectives: This controlled clinical study examined the therapeutic impact of eight weekly 60-minute Argentine Tango sessions on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in 27 participants with post-treatment breast cancer.
Methods: CRF (CFS-D), HRQL (EORTC QLQ-C30), and medication adherence (MARS-D) were assessed were assessed at baseline (V0), post-intervention (V1), and six months later (V2). Comparisons was performed with a historical non-dance control breast cancer group (n=108) from the same study center, analysis were performed in R, version 4.1.3.
Results: The most pronounced effect was observed in CRF. The CFS-D total score decreased from 30.1 to 21.8 (Δ -8.3) at V1 and to 18.9 at V2 (Δ -11.2; p < 0.001). Effect sizes were large (d = -0.96). Compared with the historical control group, the Tango intervention produced an eightfold greater improvement. HRQL findings complemented these results: role functioning improved markedly at V1 (Δ +33.1; p < 0.001), social functioning increased (Δ +19.4 points (p = 0.005), and sleep disturbance declined (Δ -10.0; p = 0.036). Medication adherence to endocrine and supportive therapy remained consistently high (median 24; p = 1.0), indicating stable compliance.
Conclusion: Tango strengthens vitality and functional well-being while supporting patients in continuing their endocrine and supportive therapies without interruption, offering an embodied therapeutic art practice that helps address post-cancer challenges and fosters resilience in survivorship care.



